Job Description

Job Title: Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis

As an Advanced Specialist, Financial Reporting, Planning and Analysis (FP&A) within Pearson Finance Services, you will deliver decision‑ready insight and forward‑looking analysis that supports the Higher Education business. This role combines strong FP&A fundamentals with a modern approach to analytics—using automation and AI‑enabled tools to improve accuracy, speed, and insight while maintaining robust governance and controls.

You’ll wake up excited to turn complex financial data into clear performance narratives that guide better decisions. In your first six months, your impact will be visible through stronger forecasting routines, simplified and standardised reporting, and improved stakeholder confidence in financial insight. What makes this role unique is the opportunity to shape how FP&A operates—balancing innovation with discipline in a global, matrixed environment.

The Role

This role exists to own and continuously improve core FP&A cycles for the Higher Education division. You’ll partner closely with senior stakeholders, finance systems, and data teams to deliver high‑quality planning, reporting, and performance management while strengthening processes, controls, and self‑service capabilities.

What You’ll Own

Success in this role is defined by insight, ownership, and improvement:

• Core FP&A delivery Own month‑end performance reporting, rolling forecasts, budgets, and ad‑hoc analysis with clear, decision‑ready commentary.
• Driver‑based modelling Build and maintain models that explain performance and quantify risks and opportunities.
• Stakeholder partnership Align assumptions, answer business questions, and communicate a consistent performance narrative with senior stakeholders.
• Process standardisation & control Strengthen planning and reporting through standard outputs, clear documentation, and appropriate governance and audit trails.
• Automation & analytics Use automation and AI‑enabled tools to reduce manual effort and improve insight quality, ensuring validation and confidentiality before distribution.
• Dashboards & self‑service Develop and enhance dashboards, define KPIs and data definitions, and partner with Finance Systems and BI teams on refresh cadence and data quality.
• Team enablement Coach and quality‑review work from junior team members, contributing to capability building in modelling and financial storytelling.

About You

You bring strong FP&A capability, commercial curiosity, and confidence partnering with senior stakeholders.

• You hold a recognised accountancy qualification or bring equivalent experience with strong core accounting knowledge.
• You have proven experience in planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance management, including variance analysis and executive‑level storytelling.
• You’re comfortable working end‑to‑end with data—understanding sources, reconciling outputs, and explaining variances.
• You have a continuous improvement mindset and experience driving standardisation, automation, and process optimisation.
• You’re confident using AI‑enabled tools responsibly to accelerate analysis and drafting, applying sound judgement and validation.
• You bring advanced Excel skills and experience with finance ERP and planning/reporting tools (Oracle preferred).
• You’re highly organised, resilient, and able to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• You communicate clearly and build trust across finance and non‑finance teams.

What You’ll Get

This is an opportunity to grow your career in a high‑impact FP&A role within a global organisation.

• Ownership of core FP&A cycles supporting a major business division.
• The chance to modernise planning and reporting through automation and analytics.
• Close partnership with senior business and finance leaders.
• Exposure to enterprise finance systems and data platforms.
• Professional growth in a role that values insight, innovation, and accountability.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Apply now and help shape the future of financial insight and decision‑making at Pearson.

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